New Amelia Earhart bio delves into her unconventional marriage

The news article discusses a new biography on Amelia Earhart, titled "The Aviator and the Showman," written by Laurie Gwen Shapiro. The book delves into Earhart's unconventional marriage to George Putnam, a wealthy publisher who was instrumental in promoting her aviation career. The article highlights Shapiro's exploration of the complex relationship between Earhart and Putnam, which was characterized by mutual respect and collaboration, but also Earhart's desire for independence and Putnam's attempts to control her public image. Shapiro's research reveals the intricacies of their partnership, including Earhart's insistence on maintaining her own finances and Putnam's role in shaping her public persona as the "first lady of the air." The biography offers a nuanced perspective on Earhart's life, moving beyond the iconic status she has gained as a pioneering aviator to examine the personal and professional dynamics that shaped her remarkable career and ultimately her mysterious disappearance.